About Us | IYNA Official Site

The IYNA

Since its inception, the International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) has strived to make, refine, and distribute high-quality, accessible neuroscience resources. In particular, we aim to level disparities in neuroscience education caused by socioeconomic and geographic differences. We accomplish this by catering events to multiple time zones and hosting all events virtually, so that anyone with internet can attend.

Find out more about the passionate staff and volunteers running the organization below!

Executive Staff

Khayla is a senior at NYU majoring in physics. Through her work in the IYNA, she hopes to provide high-quality educational resources for all students interested in neuroscience. Her specific roles include developing the IYNA's Youth Neuroscience Summer Program and developing partnerships. In her free time, Khayla enjoys running, drinking coffee, and traveling.

Executive Director

Khayla Black

Khayla is a senior at NYU majoring in physics. Through her work in the IYNA, she hopes to provide high-quality educational resources for all students interested in neuroscience. Her specific roles include developing the IYNA's Youth Neuroscience Summer Program and developing partnerships. In her free time, Khayla enjoys running, drinking coffee, and traveling.

Brian is a junior studying Physics and Math at Claremont McKenna College. He originally joined IYNA to help make high-quality, accessible neuroscience resources and has remained in the organization since for the same reason. Brian enjoys reading, writing, and learning physics in his free time!

Board Chair

Brian Lee

Brian is a junior studying Physics and Math at Claremont McKenna College. He originally joined IYNA to help make high-quality, accessible neuroscience resources and has remained in the organization since for the same reason. Brian enjoys reading, writing, and learning physics in his free time!

Staff and Volunteers

Annie is a freshman at Johns Hopkins, double majoring in Computer Science and Public Health, from St. Louis, Missouri. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Youth Neuroscience Association Journal where she is in charge of ensuring monthly IYNA issues are released on time and uphold the IYNA standard. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends.

Editor-in-Chief

Annie Pan

Annie is a freshman at Johns Hopkins, double majoring in Computer Science and Public Health, from St. Louis, Missouri. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Youth Neuroscience Association Journal where she is in charge of ensuring monthly IYNA issues are released on time and uphold the IYNA standard. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends.

Shrika is a grade 12 high school student from Toronto, Canada. She hopes to promote accessibility to all the exciting, open-access initiatives that IYNA has to offer, and contribute to maintaining the organisation’s commitment to high-quality neuroscience education. Her roles include maintaining the organisation through logistical tasks and managing volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys reading philosophy, painting, making Pinterest boards, and biking. Feel free to reach out: svejandla@youthneuro.org.

Operations Head

Shrika Vejandla

Shrika is a grade 12 high school student from Toronto, Canada. She hopes to promote accessibility to all the exciting, open-access initiatives that IYNA has to offer, and contribute to maintaining the organisation’s commitment to high-quality neuroscience education. Her roles include maintaining the organisation through logistical tasks and managing volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys reading philosophy, painting, making Pinterest boards, and biking. Feel free to reach out: svejandla@youthneuro.org.

Jiya is a senior at the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences. Through her work in IYNA, she hopes to make access to neuroscience resources more equitable. Within the IYNA, she works on planning the Brain Bee Bootcamp and collaborating with IBB. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and volunteering as an EMT.

Volunteer

Jiya Mody

Jiya is a senior at the Academy for Health and Medical Sciences. Through her work in IYNA, she hopes to make access to neuroscience resources more equitable. Within the IYNA, she works on planning the Brain Bee Bootcamp and collaborating with IBB. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and volunteering as an EMT.

Sofia is currently a junior on her city’s highschool, TISLS. She was Chile’s 2022 Brain Bee finalist and hopes to study medicine. One of her main objetives working with IYNA is to inspire young girls into pursuing STEM related careers. Her specific roles in the organization include managing our social media, and being in charge of our advertisement. In her free time she loves to practice theater and dance, and she also speaks two languages, Spanish and English.

Volunteer

Sofia Fothergill

Sofia is currently a junior on her city’s highschool, TISLS. She was Chile’s 2022 Brain Bee finalist and hopes to study medicine. One of her main objetives working with IYNA is to inspire young girls into pursuing STEM related careers. Her specific roles in the organization include managing our social media, and being in charge of our advertisement. In her free time she loves to practice theater and dance, and she also speaks two languages, Spanish and English.

Eve is a post-graduate at the University of Glasgow studying her masters degree in Brain Sciences. Through her work with IYNA, she hopes to help as many budding-neuroscientists as possible to enter the field and find the same passion that she has through her own studies. Her specific roles include developing the IYNA’s Youth Neuroscience Summer Program (2023), judging essay writing competitions, and being a Teaching Assistant in the 2022 Summer Course. In her spare time, Eve enjoys reading, diamond painting, watching movies and playing with her pet rats and hedgehog.

Sofia Fothergill

Eve Harrison

Eve is a post-graduate at the University of Glasgow studying her masters degree in Brain Sciences. Through her work with IYNA, she hopes to help as many budding-neuroscientists as possible to enter the field and find the same passion that she has through her own studies. Her specific roles include developing the IYNA’s Youth Neuroscience Summer Program (2023), judging essay writing competitions, and being a Teaching Assistant in the 2022 Summer Course. In her spare time, Eve enjoys reading, diamond painting, watching movies and playing with her pet rats and hedgehog.